Electric-railway motor



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. J. VAN DEPOELE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY MOTOR.

Patented Mar. 17 1891.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. J. VAN DEPOELE. ELBGTRIG RAILWAY MOTOR.

i, m Mm 8 U8 1 n a 5 M d MW m cw m (Nd Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. J. VAN DEPOELE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY MOTOR.

No. 448,561. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

III

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CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, liIASSACl-IUSET'S ELECTRlG-RAlLWAY MQTGR.

forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,561, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed October 22, 1889. Serial No. 327,769. (No model.)

To to whom, it iii/ray concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElcctrioRailway Motor Systems, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to electric railways, and comprises the application of a special form of motor to electric railways or analogous purposes, resembling in many respects the invention disclosed in a prior application, Serial No. 321,3 8, dated September 18, 1889.

As will appear, the invention also comprises certain features of general application.

Some forms embodying the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and the same will be fully hereinafter described, and referred to in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a motor and supply circuits and apparatus arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the wheels of a railway-car truck, collecting and distributing circuits extending from the source of current, a motor applied to the axles of each of the driving-wheels, and means for distributing the current thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation showing mechanical connections between the wheels of a truck. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, partly in diagram, showing the bed of a railwayvehicle provided with double pivoted trucks and having an electric motor applied to the axle of each pair of the carrying-wheels thereof and the circuits by which said motors are supplied with current. Fig. l is a view in diagram showing a motor and means for reversing and synchronizing the same. Fig. 5 is an end view, partly in section, showing a pair of carwheels, a motor supported upon the axle thereof, and an electromagnetic clutch connecting the motor with said axle.

As pointed out in my said prior application, and also in an application, Serial No. 3%,329, also filed September 18, 1889, the motor per sc, which forms a part of the present system, comprises generally a stationary part A,

which is annular or cylindric in form and consists of a continuous iron core a, provided with an exterior winding B of insulated conductor of the required size.

It will be apparent that the relative weights of the core and of the conductors may be varied greatly and will depend upon the particular service for which the motor is designed. \Vith this explanation the said stationary part will be hereinafter referred to as the field-magnet. The moving part of the motor is rotatably mounted within the field-magnet A and comprises a magnetic or an electromagnetic armature C.

In the various figures of the drawings the armature C is shown as a Siemens Z-armature, which form will answer by way of illustration, although of course the shape an d nature of the said armature may be varied according to circumstances.

The armatures C are provided with magnetizing-coils D D, and the terminals of said coils are represented by annular contact-surfaces d d, upon which bear suitable contactbrushcs connected to conductors l 2, by which the current for energizing the said armatures C enters and leaves.

The field-magnet A is connected in circuit with a number of supply-conductors, the number of which may vary considerably. The said supplyconductors, no matter what their number, are connected at equidistant points with the winding upon the field-magnets, and although said field-magnet conductor might be divided into indepeiiidcnt sections no special advantage will result from so doing, and I therefore prefer to connect the same as one continuous winding upon the core (t.

The armature C is caused to rotate within the field-magnet A by means which are provided for causing the direction of the How of currents to the supplyconductors to move in a circle, so that the points of opposite polarity in the field-magnet will be caused to travel continuously around the core thereof, carrying with them, if sufficiently powerful, the rotatable magnetic or electro-magnetic body mounted within their field of force.

In my prior application I have described a generator closely resembling the motor in construction and adapted to produce currents and to supply them to the circuits in the very best manner for producing the desired re-' sults. I have also therein shown means for distributing current in the motor-circuits, which means, being entirely controllable and operating without regard to the speed of the generator, enable me to move thepolar line around the field-magnet at any desirable speed.

The last-mentioned form possessing advantages for my present purpose will be hereinafter referred to as the distributor, and consists here simply of a sectional commutator.

In Fig. 1 is seen a motor M, constructed according to the principles just set forth. In this instance the field-magnet-o'f the motorM is supplied from an eight-wire circuit, the current from the eight circuit-conductors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 entering the field-magnet coilsthrough branch conductors m m m m m m m m The motor-circuit conductors 1 2 3-4 5 6 7 8 are supplied with current from a motor-distributer F, which, as seen in Fig. 1, is of the automatic type and comprises a commutator G, composed of any desired number of segments g. The segments of the commutator G are connected to the coils of a fieldsmagnet E, whichis a wire-wound continuous iron'core nect the field-magnet coils of the distributer with the motor-circuit in symmetrical relation with the connections extending between i said motor-circuit and the field-magnet of the motor M.

A magnetic or electro-magnetic armature 0, here shown as electro-magnetic and of a construction resembling, if not identical with,

that of the armature of the motor M, is rotatably mounted within or below or adjacent tov the commutator G, and is arranged insuch-position relative to the connections between-the supply-circuit and the coils-of the distributer F that its poles will be atrigh-tangles thereto,

. causing the same to be rotated at a greater or less speed, according to the strength of the current supplied to the coils thereof.

The main supply-current may be taken from any suitable source; but for illustration 1 have shown a double suspended conductor system and two traveling contact devices 1) 41, adapted to make continuous contact therewith.

The current for operating the motor M is supplied to the circuit connected therewith in the following or an equivalent manner: The rotating part of the distributor F carries a pair of oppositely-placed well-insulated contactbrushes P N. The said brushes are of course I arranged to operate to the best advantage with respect to the surface of the commutator, and, although I have shown the said'commutator G as cylindric and having the brushesP N upon its inner surface, it will understood that the said commutator maybe arranged in any convenient form, a difierent disposition thereof being seen in Fig. 2, for instance. The conductors 1 2 are connected to the brushes P N,

and as the said brushes are moved about the commutator G by the rotation of the armature P the supply-current Will flow in the coils of the field-magnet E, and will issue from thence through the conductors f'f f f f f f f and passing to the motor-circuit will flow into and out of the coils of the field-magnet A of the motor M, causing the polar line in said field-magnet to travel around at exactly the same speed and in the same direction as that ofthe brushes P N in the distributer. The main supply-circuit extends from the source to contact p, thence by branch conductor 1 to brush P. From the brush P the current flows in multiple are through the coils of the field-magnet E, issuing therefrom to the bru'sh'N, to which is electrically connected a conductor 2. The armature O is desirably connected between the conductors 1 and 2 by suitable connection therefrom to its contactsurfaces cl d.

extended through conductor 2 to the branch conductor 1, which is connected with the contact-surface d of the armature O of the motor M, and after traversing the'coils of the said armature the current returns to the other side of the main circuit through conductor 2 and traveling contact n. An y desired means can be used to control the flow of the supply-current in the said armature-circuit.

As indicated in Fig. 2, a pair of motors M M are arranged to propel av motor-truck, which is represented by the wheels HYH', which are provided with axles I J. The motors are of the type seen in Fig. 1, being provided with an eight-wire supply-circuit, and having electro-magnetic armatures C, as described. In this form the distributer is actuated by mechanical instead of electro magnetic means, the axis of the rotating brushes P N being provided with a sprocket-Wheel v1 orother m echani'caldevice, which is connected to the axis of the wheel H by a sprocket-wheel j and chain j. Any form of connection may be employed, the object merely being to cause simultaneous and cor-responding movement of the armatures-of the motors and the dis tributing-brushes P N, which latter, it will be observed, are shown as having a lead over the armatures, so that the poles in the fieldmagnets of the motors M M will normally be at right angles with the armature-poles and in position to exercise the full available torque upon their said armatures. The relative polarity of the armatures of the motors M M may of course be changed with refer ence to the distributing-brushes P N, as desired, and while Ihave shown the distributer as connected with one of the trucks of a car it will be understood that such arrangement is chiefly by way of illustration, and that in practice the distributor and connections would be located Within the car in safe and convenient position for the operatorin charge. The su pply-cu rrent, entering through ing by conductor 9 to the positive distributerbrush P, engaging the segments of the commutator G, through which the current flows to the motor-circuits, returning through brush N. From brush N the current passes by conductor 10 to an adjustable resistance K, and thence to switch-lever 7t thereof, thence by suitable connection with the traveling contact n, and back to line. The circuits and connections between the distributer and motors seen in Fig. 2 are in all material respects the same as those in Fig. 1, and are therefore similarly designated. It will be observed that the positions of the distributerbrushes P Nare such that the supply-current passes to the motor-circuit through the conductors, which are at right angles to the poles of the armatures O C, and this relation is maintained throughout. The armatures O C of the motors M M receive their current through branch conductors 1 1 2 2, which extend from a circuit 11 12, which is connected with the traveling contacts 1) a through 0011- ductors 13 1%. The said conductors 13 1st terminate in switch-levers 7t k which are arranged to engage the terminals of a reversing-switch O. By moving the levers of the reversing-switch 0 onto one or other of the sets of terminals current will be caused to flow in the armature-circuits in one direction or in the other without in any way affecting the direction of the flow of current in the field magnet circuits of the said motors, which will cause the armatures of the said motors to turn in one direction or the other, as desired.

It will of course be understood that although but a single truck is indicated in Fig. 2 any desired numberas, for instance, all the trucks of a railway-traincould readily be so connected by suitably extending the circuits, as indicated in Figs. 1 to Fig. 3 shows a doubletrucl: railway-vehicle with continuous circuit, in which are comprised four motors M M M h one for each wheel of the two trucks. In said Fig. 3 the field-magnets of the motors are operated by a four-wire distributer-circuit N N N N, instead of an eightwire, as previously referred to, and seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Such an arrangement will work well in many cases and reduces the costand complexity of the local circuit.

The circuits shown in Fig. 3 are designed to be supplied with current in substantially the same manner as the circuits seen in Fig. 2, the only difference being in the number of conductors employed.

The arrangement just described will operate perfectly so long as all the armatures remain in similar relation to the moving poles of the field-magnets.

It will be understood that the circumferentially-moving poles in the field-magnets of the motors will necessarily move together in all the field-magnets where a circuit of motors, as upon an electricrailway train, are all supplied with currents from a single distributer, for instance, as indicated in Fig. 2; but from the many and changing circumstances and conditions under which railway-trains nust be operated some means must be provided for overcoming the demoralizing effects of the numerous forces acting to disarrange the harmony or synchronism of the armatures and their relation to the moving poles. One instance of this is found in the liability of some of the brakes acting with more force than others on grades, causing some of the wheels to lag behind.

Of course it will be understood that where a number of motor-trucks are to be operated from a single distributer each and every wheel of the whole number should be of the same size, so that they can all operate at once. Where this is not the case each separate truck or car must be provided with a separate distributer, as indicated in Fig.

Many minor inequalities may be overcome and practical synchronism secured by me chanically connecting the sets of wheels of each truck by connecting-rods, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. 1 have, however, provided means for overcoming this di fficulty and for securing synchronic action between all the motor-armatu res.

As already stated, in order to get the best results from a system of motors arranged as described, it is necessary that the poles in the armatures thereof should be at right angles, or nearly so, with the poles in the field-magnets of the motors, and this I accomplish at any time in a simple but eificacious method, the principle of which is to first free all the armatures from the axles to be driven, then to rotate all of said armatures into similar positions with respect to the field-magnet poles of all the motors on the train, then to operatively connect the said armatnres with the axles to be driven, as by a magnetic clutch, and then to change the positions of the poles in the field-magnets of the motors to points at right angles with the poles of the armatures, as previously positioned. Means for securing these results are indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. In said Fig. 5, G is a distributor resembling that seen in Fig. 2 and preferably actuated in the same or a similar manner, butis provided with two sets of distributingbrushes P N I N, all pla ed under control of the operator and preferably inside the car or in a suitable cab. The said distributer G is provided with four contact-surfaces, one for each brush, and four supply-conductors 15 16 17 18, the conductors 15 and 1G representing the distributer-brushes P N, and the conductors 17 18 the other set of distribir ter-brushes P N. A pair of switch-levers p 02 represent the terminals of the main supply-conductors and are arranged in position to engage either pair of the supply-conductors, as desired. It will be understood that the effect of moving the switch-levers p n from one to the other set of conductors will be to cause the supply-current to flow into the field-magnet A of the motor M at points work-that is, the axle to be drivenand the poles in the field-magnet then moved to a position at right angles thereto, the armature would be powerfully attracted and rotated by the reaction thereon of the field-magnet poles in their new position.

The circuits and arrangements necessary to i the carrying out of this part of my invention are seen diagrammatically in Fig. 4, While in Fig. 5 an organization of parts is represented comprising an armature rotatably mounted upon the axle to be driven,a magnetic clutch for locking the armature upon said axle in the desired position, and circuits and connections for operating the same, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4.

O is the armature, which is sustained by a sleeve Q in operative relation to a proper field-magnet, substantially as described. The sleeve Q carries, in addition to the armature G, three annular contact-snrfacesd d d corresponding to the similarly-designated contact-surfaces seen in Fig. 4. The opposite extremity of the said sleeve is expanded to form a polar extension q, within which is formed a recess containinga magnetizing-coil R. The sleeve Q is preferably of iron, as is its extended portion q, and it follows, therefore,

that when current is caused to circulate in the coil R the said extended portion of the sleeve will be magnetized. An iron block S is'secured to the axle, and is formed with a face or surface adapted to come into mechanical contact with the outer margins of the polar extensions (1 of the sleeve Q. The head S is secured to the axle, so that it cannot turn independently thereof; but its connection therewith permits some lateral movement, it being secured thereto, for example, by means of the same, so that the armature, its sleeve, and the axle will rotate together.

the armature.

coils R, the other end of said coils R extending by conductor 20 to the ring (I, which is in electrical connection with the supply-conductor 2. doctor 20 and connects with one extremity of the coils of the armature O, the other extrem-.

.ity of said armature-coils being represented by conductor 22, which is connected to contact-ring d which is engaged by the supplyconductor 3.

Of course various different circuit arrangements may be employed andm'any different combinations made other than those here described; but, as just set forth, it will be understood that when the switch-levers t t are upon the terminals of the conductors 1 2 the current will flow through the magnetizingcoil R by conductors l9 and 20, but without A branch 21 extends from the con-.

energizing the armature-coils, and consequently the clutch will be operated, but not When the said switch-levers are upon the conductors 1 and 3, both the clutch and armature coils will receive current, the armature-coils being in series with the clutch-coil R by Way of branch conductor 21. When, however, the said switch-levers are upon the conductors 2 and 3, the supply-.

current will pass through the'armature-coils only.

It will readily be understood that with these possible combinations the hereinbefore-described method of synchronism can be readily carried out.

In the present case the field of force or magnetic polarity is revolved in accordance with the speed of the vehicle or the wheels of the same, being entirely dependent upon the motion of. the wheels to effect the commutation or distribution of current. This is the distinguishing feature of the present case. In the former case the field polarity may revolve independent of the motion of the train. In the present case, however, the field-poles can only move in accordance with the wheels of the train which actuate the distributing-commutator, so that the torque in all the motors is positive.

Instead of mounting the motors upon the axle of the vehicle, they can of course be supported independently and geared in the ordinary manner.

I have explained that the proper relation to each other, as applied to the armature and field-magnets, I mean a relation at right an gles, as explained, or at least such an angular displacement of one element as the armature, with respect to the other element as the moving field of force, as will insure the desired reaction of one upon the other.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s 1 1. The combination, with a moving vehicle or vehicles, of one or more motors applied to propel the same, and means actuated by the movement of said vehicles for continuously distributingsupply-current of continuous direction to the said motor or motors in accordance with the speed at which the vehicles are moving.

2. in an electricrailway system, one or more motors arranged to drive a train, each motor having revoluble armature impelled by a rotating constant field of force, each field of force presenting its poles at an angle to the revoluble armature-poles, and means for reestablishing the said relation between the armatures and the moving field of force Whenever the same has been disturbed.

3. in an electric-railway system, a number of motors, each having a revolving armature mechanically connected to the wheels of the railway-vehicles, said armature being driven by a rotating constant field of force controlled by and rotating at a speed corresponding with the speed of the wheels of the vehicles.

ln an elect-ricra-ilway system, one or more motors to drive the train, each of the motors comprising a revoluble armature and a rotatable constant field of force, an electric distributor causing the rotation of the field of force of all the motor-fields, and means for placing and holding all the armature-poles in true relation with regard to the revolving field of force.

5. In an electriorailway system, one or more motors having d rivin g-armatures impelled by stationary cylindrical field-magnets, the latter having a rotating constant field of force, and means for simultaneously positioning all the armature-poles at a Working angle to the revolving fields of force whenever their true relation has been disturbed.

G. The combination, with a series of electrodynamic motors, a suitable source of continuous current, and permanent electric connections extending to a number of points around the continuous non-rotating field-magnet coils of said motors, armatu res connected to the work and rotatable within the moving fields of force of the motors, and means for moving the constant field of force around the fieldmagnets of the meters at a speed corresponding to that of the vehicle or vehicles driven.

'7. The combination, with the wheels of a vehicle or vehicles, of one or more motors applied thereto to drive the same, a distributor carried by the vehicle in suitable position, connections between the distributor and circuit or circuits around the circumference of the field-magnets ot' the motor or motors, and means actuated by the movement of the vehicle for actuating a distributing device for distributing current, and thereby rotating the field-magnet poles at a rate depending upon the rate of movement of the vehicle and in true relation to the moving or driving armature or armatures.

8. The combination, with a vehicle or vehicles and a motor or motors applied to propel the wheels thereof, of a plurality of circuits adapted to supply current to the field-magnets of the motors, armatu res in operative relation to the field-magnets and applied to propel the wheels of the vehicle or vehicles, and a device for distributing current in the motor-circuits to cause rotary movement of the field of force, and means operated by the movement of the vehicles for controlling the speed of the distributor in accordance with the rate of movement of the vehicles.

9. The combination of a plurality of vehicles or trucks, motors applied to propel the wheels thereof, and magnetic clutches interposed between the driving-gear and the axles to be driven, and an energizingcircuit incl u ding said clutches, whereby the same may be connected or disconnected, as desired, and from a single point.

10. The combination, with a plurality of vehicles or trucks, ot a plurality of motors and detachable electromagnetic connections between the armatures of said motors and the axles to be driven, and means controlling the action of the detachableconi'iections and for rearranging and positioning all the said arinatures with respect to their fields of force, and thereby starting up the motorarmatures in true position with regard to the moving field-magnet poles by which they are actuated.

11. The combination, with a plurality of vehicles or trucks, of a plurality of motors and mechanical connections between the armatures of said motors and the axles to be driven, magnetic clutches interposed between and connecting the armatures and the said axles, and circuits and switching devices therein for setting the clutches when the entire series of armatures is in operative position.

12. In an electric-railway motorsystem, the combination, with the axles of the vehicle or vehicles to be driven, of motors applied to propel the same, said motors comprising armatures operatively connected with the axles to be d riven,'and field-magnets therefor rigidly heldin position to react thereon, multiple circuits extending between the source of supply and points about the said fieldmagnets, and a cin'rent-distributing device interposed between the source and the motors acting to distribute current successively to the conductors connected around the fieldmagnets ot' the motors, and means for actuating the distributor in synchronism with the speed of the vehicle, thereby maintaining the full torque at any speed.

13. The combination, with a moving vehicle or vehicles, of one or more motors applied to propel the same, means actuated by the move ment of the vehicles for distributing supplycnrrent to the motors, and pole-changing circuits and connections for reversing the direction of rotation of the motors.

14:. The combination, with a moving vehicle or vehicles, of one or more motors applied to propel the same, in cans actuated by the move ment of the vehicles for distributing supplyor distributers controllable from a single current to the motor or motors, and a series point, and asingle set of reversingapparatus of motors all supplied from a distributer or for theentire series.

distributers controllable from a single point. In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig- 5 15. The combination, Witha moving Vehicle nature in presence of two Witnesses.

or vehicles of one or more motorsapplied to propel the same, means actuated by the CHARLES VAN DEPOELE' movement of the vehicles for distributing -Witnesses: supply-current to the motor or motors, and a J. WESLEY GIBBONEY, [0 series of motors all supplied by a distributer CHARLES L. OECKsNER. 

